Step Behind The Stage
The Choir of Man
New Theatre, Peterborough - 14/04/2026
Review by Daniel Marshall
Photo Credit: Mark Senior
If you have followed Step Behind The Stage for a while, you will know that The Choir of Man holds a very special place in our hearts. Having fallen in love with it during its West End run, the chance to see it again as it embarks on its first ever UK tour was one we simply could not pass up. For those who have somehow not yet had the pleasure, The Choir of Man transforms the stage into a working pub called The Jungle, where nine multi-talented men sing, dance, tell stories and pour pints. It is a celebration of community and human connection unlike anything else in theatre. Last night The Jungle took over Peterborough’s New Theatre, becoming the city’s local for the week.
The excited audience packed out the theatre early, many making their way onto the stage to enjoy a drink at the bar before the show had even begun. Cast members were already out mingling with the crowd, breaking down any barriers between stage and stalls long before the lights changed. By the time opening number ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ kicked in, the whole room already felt like one big party. That sense of community only grew as the night progressed, with singalongs, beermats and crisps thrown into the crowd and audience members brought up on stage to become part of the performance.
Truly one of the most joyous shows in theatre, The Choir of Man is at its core about one thing. Human connection. This current cast encapsulate that perfectly, bouncing off one another with a chemistry that makes it feel less like a performance and more like a genuine night out with friends. They revel together in the upbeat numbers and carry genuine emotion through the quieter, more tender moments. That emotion extends to the audience too. You could find yourself in tears of laughter one moment, from the likes of Rob Godfrey delivering a brilliantly hilarious yet vocally stunning ‘Teenage Dream’ or Gustav Melbardis' barnstorming ‘I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)’, and then genuinely moved the next during Nimi Owoyemi's deeply felt rendition of ‘Dance With My Father’.
Photo Credit: Mark Senior
Whilst the tour has more than maintained the spirit and charm that made the West End run so special, there is one notable change in the addition of an interval. Audiences get another chance to head up to the on-stage bar, and when the cast drift back out to the pub to signal the start of the second act, the party simply picks up where it left off. A selection of traditional pub songs leads into a roof-raising rendition of ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’, the cast bringing every single person in the room along for the ride, including those still nursing a pint at the bar on stage. The extended run time has also allowed space for the Jungle Choir Community Project, a wonderful new initiative that invites local choirs to join the company on opening night in every touring city. On this occasion, local choirs Your Choir and Sing Choirs took to the stage alongside the cast for a rousing rendition of Chandelier, introduced by Musical Captain and swing Sam Ebenezer. It is a genuinely special addition that takes the show's message of community and makes it feel even more tangible and real.
After the local choirs received a thoroughly deserved reception, Nimi Owoyemi addressed the audience with a heartfelt speech about the show and what it means to those who make it. Whilst this forms a regular part of each performance, the passion with which he delivered it made it abundantly clear that every word was genuinely felt by him and the entire cast on stage. One final gift followed this speech, a beautiful rendition of traditional folk song ‘The Parting Glass’, a perfect close to a perfect evening.
The Choir of Man on tour has done so well to keep the warmth, the laughter and the community spirit of the West End production, whilst expanding it into something that feels even more inclusive and celebratory of each area they perform in. The Peterborough run continues until this Saturday, and with dates across the country running through to December, we would urge you to keep a close eye on when it arrives near you. You will not regret it.
Cast on the Night:
Rob Godfrey – Beast
Levi Tyrell Johnson – Hard Man
Joshua Lloyd – Barman
Ben Mabberley – Joker
Gustav Melbardis – Maestro
Oluwalonimi (Nimi) Owoyemi – Poet
Aaron Pottenger – Bore
Sam Walter – Romantic
Niall Woodson – Handyman
Sam Ebenezer – Musical Captain & Swing